Lansing School District plans outline protocols for resuming education amid COVID-19

LANSING — Lansing School District students will not return to their classrooms full-time until the COVID-19 pandemic begins to recede.

The district board of education approved its return to school plans Thursday, laying out procedures for each of the phases of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s MI Safe Schools plan.

Students will continue to receive remote instruction if the Lansing area stays within Phases 1-3, move to a hybrid option where students return to classrooms part-time and complete the rest of their work online in Phase 4, return to school operations with recommended safety measures under Phase 5 and return to pre-coronavirus operations in Phase 6.

Although the Lansing area is currently in Phase 4, which allows for in-person instruction, school district officials previously announced plans to keep instruction online through the first marking period, which runs from Aug. 31 to Nov. 6.

“(The Return to Learn planning team) has worked tirelessly since the onset of the closure,” said Deputy Superintendent Delsa Chapman. “We have worked many days and many nights to get to this point. It is because of this collective nature of working together that we have been able to put together a very viable plan that will be the best-fit scenario for both our staff and our students.”

Helping working parents

School district officials are developing learning labs where some students can come to learn while their parents go to work.

Chapman said they currently have about 600 open spaces for the learning labs that will be available to students by the beginning of the school year. Officials hope to expand the number of spaces available and are working with community centers and YMCA facilities to find spaces for the labs, according to Chapman.

The labs would offer a space for students to come and complete their online learning, she said. One meal would also be provided.

Chapman didn’t rule out some kind of cost for these labs. There will be spaces reserved for students from families whose costs could be covered by the state Department of Health and Human Services, she said, while negotiations with the district’s community partners continue to determine remaining logistics.

Further information will be provided before school starts.

Computer, iPad distribution

Every student who needs one will have access to a device they can use to complete their online school work.

Chromebooks will be provided for third-grade students and up through seniors. Students in pre-K through second grade will be provided iPads. The devices will be distributed Aug. 12-28.

District officials additionally will provide internet connectivity options that are either free or offered at a reduced cost for families if needed, with internet hotspots available if none of the options work.

Meal distribution

The school district partnered with its food service provider, SodexoMAGIC, to feed students after schools first closed in March and they hope to continue in the new school year.

Meal pick-up site planning is underway, said Superintendent Sam Sinicropi, with possible sites including housing developments, churches and school buildings. The district is also looking to deliver some meals through Dean Transportation, the district’s transportation provider.

What will learning look like?

Learning will be different for Lansing students this fall, but they’ll see two features carried over from a traditional school day — required attendance and mandatory school work.

The experience will resemble a normal school day, with students checking into their classes online through the Google Classroom program where they’ll receive instruction in core areas like math and science, with additional instruction through elective courses.

Special education supports

Further resources will be devoted to ensuring students with special needs receive a quality, remote education.

Educators worked to develop contingency plans for each student after schools closed in March. They’ll continue to build on those plans and use them to guide students’ education.

A special education team is also working to provide opportunities for various therapies for students in a face-to-face environment while also adhering to health protocols.

Returning to school

Students and staff can expect to see face masks and gallons of hand sanitizer when they eventually return.

After the first marking period ends, school district officials will use Whitmer’s MI Safe Schools plan in deciding when to bring students back.

Students would return part-time if the region remain in Phase 4 under the school district’s plan, with safety precautions required, including mandatory face masks.

Under Phase 4, all students will be required to wear face masks when riding school buses and while in hallways and common areas. Students in sixth grade through 12th grade would have to keep them on during class, while younger students who stay with the same class all day would not.

Masks would be required for all employees in hallways, common areas and any other situations where maintaining six feet of space between themselves and others would not be possible.

The district will keep a supply of disposable masks for students and staff.

Hand-washing or hand-sanitizing stations will be provided for each classroom and district officials will follow a cleaning regimen, including cleaning frequently touched surfaces every four hours, cleaning common areas after every class period, cleaning desks after students leave after every class and cleaning playground equipment every night.

COVID-19 case response  

Families will be encouraged to check their children’s temperature each morning before school while in Phase 4. Students with a temperature of 100 or more cannot come to school.

Any students with COVID-19 symptoms, like a fever or shortness of breath, will be recommended for testing and sent to a designated, supervised quarantine area until they can go home. The school district will share any positive test results with the Ingham County Health Department, which will provide further guidance for the school district and work with the families on contact tracing and possible testing.

All parents and staff will be notified in the event of a COVID-19 case.

Students who test positive must quarantine away from school for two weeks and until they receive a negative test result.

Contact Mark Johnson at 517-377-1026 or at majohnson2@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ByMarkJohnson.